Once-in-a-generation marksman Erling Haaland secures a crack at his premier global event this coming summer, thanks to his efforts with Norway to the World Cup.
Additionally, the 25-year-old Premier League striker achieved it with outstanding performance, netting 16 goals in eight World Cup qualifying matches - scoring in every match in all those encounters.
That makes him the leading goalscorer in 2026 World Cup preliminary stage in any continent.
Moreover, his country's 4-1 win versus Italy on Sunday, with Haaland netting two goals, means they will be competing in next summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Haaland, speaking afterwards: "I'm pleased, but mostly relieved. There's a lot of pressure and factors, and I sense it. But it's fun."
It will be just their fourth World Cup, and their initial international competition since Euro 2000.
The striker's scoring statistics for Norway is nothing short of phenomenal.
He has scored 55 goals in 48 matches for Norway.
Furthermore he is merely the sixth athlete ever, and the premier in half a century, to net 50 strikes in fewer than 50 caps.
Norway's previous highest scorer was 33-goal Jorgen Juve, who maintained that achievement for nine decades.
During these qualifying matches he netted 16 strikes - in eight games - plus two assists.
That is double the goal count anyone else has netted in UEFA matches.
He remains the top scorer in these qualifiers in any continent, including ones where national sides participate double the matches.
Over a year has elapsed since Haaland last failed to score in a game for Norway.
However, it's not just a one-man show.
Team leader Martin Odegaard, 26, has more assists than any competitor in European preliminary matches - seven setups.
The London club's midfielder has played 67 times for Norway since his initial cap at the tender age of fifteen.
"Pair Haaland's achievements with the reality that in this period we furthermore feature Martin Odegaard," said a football expert.
We're a country of five million people and we have both the best striker and I'd propose the top creator, certainly one of the premier midfielders, in the Premier League.
For the premier occasion in decades Norway followers will witness the excitement of backing their team at an international tournament.
Norway featured in the World Cups in 1938, 1994 and 1998, and the 2000 Euros.
Erling's dad, Alf-Inge Haaland, participated in the 1994 World Cup.
The striker has mentioned before being better than his father was a big career ambition for him.
"Norway will never win the World Cup," the striker mentioned to an international magazine recently.
Haaland's participation in the upcoming World Cup with Norway guarantees he dodges his addition to the collection of iconic athletes who didn't participate in the tournament.
Three golden ball recipients never managed to qualify for the World Cup.
The Liberian legend, who won trophies with multiple European clubs, featured for Liberia - who didn't make it to a World Cup.
Legendary Red Devils attacker George Best, viewed by plenty as one of football's greatest players, was a Northern Irish representative during the mid-century period when they couldn't secure qualification.
Los Blancos icon the Argentine-Spanish star played for three nations - Argentina, Colombia and Spain - but couldn't reach a World Cup with either country.
